Chapter 12

Haji’s clear eyes, filled with curiosity, turned toward Seojin.

“Have you eaten?”

“Huh? At this hour?”

“Yeah.”

What does letting go of my hand have to do with eating?

“I’ve eaten. What about you, Sunbae?”

She felt she should ask him too. He seemed too serious.

“I haven’t.”

“Really…?”

Haji was a bit taken aback by the unexpected answer.

Drip, a drop of water from the end of Seojin’s hair fell on Haji’s nose.

As her eyes squinted from the sudden sensation, Seojin exhaled lightly. His hot breath ruffled the fine hairs that stood up on Haji’s head.

Haji’s hand slipped out of Seojin’s grasp.

“Get some rest.”

“What about your meal?”

“Let’s eat tomorrow. To celebrate your move.”

The distance between them widened, making it seem as if the close proximity they had just shared was insignificant.

“Is sushi okay?”

“Sounds good.”

Hearing Haji’s answer, Seojin quickly turned his head away.

Why is he so serious?

Feeling something different in the atmosphere, Haji touched her face.

Click, Seojin’s door closed, hiding his bare body.

“Is there something on my face?”

Or did I look too much?

“I didn’t mean to look…”

It was he who came in n*ked.

“How can I help where my eyes go?”

Haji fanned her flushed face with her hands as she headed to her room.

***

The next day, the two sat across from each other in the living room.

Seojin scanned the paper in front of him. There was no trace of yesterday’s awkwardness; he was his usual self.

“Sign here?”

“If there’s anything else you need to add, feel free.”

“Isn’t it usually the landlord who writes this kind of contract?”

Instead of offering rice cakes, the tenant handed the landlord a contract the day after moving in. It outlined the rules they both needed to follow.

A contract to respect each other’s space.

“Does it matter who writes it? As long as it’s not inconvenient for either of us.”

“Inconvenient, you say?”

“Is there something inconvenient? There shouldn’t be.”

Haji re-read the contract she had written. No matter how many times she read it, there was nothing problematic.

<Contract between Ki Seojin & Ahn Haji>

1. The tenant pays rent to the landlord regularly.
2. The tenant does not delay looking for another place to live. (Move out immediately once found!)
3. Cleaning and laundry are done individually.
4. No interference in personal matters like meals.
5. Notify each other via text when at home. (To avoid surprises)

Haji looked at Seojin’s face, as if to say she didn’t understand.

“Did I write it too selfishly?”

“Well.”

Seojin recalled this morning. Ahn Haji making toast for him while making her own.

The word “selfish” was far from describing Haji. She was someone who could never be selfish.

“Oh, number 5 is to prevent incidents like yesterday.”

“Incidents?”

“Well, you know, walking around without clothes, like yesterday.”

As if recalling the previous day’s events, Haji stammered and scratched her flushed cheek.

“You seemed to like that ‘incident.'”

“When did I? I was startled. I didn’t look on purpose; my eyes just went there because I was flustered.”

“I was just joking, but it seems you did look.”

Realizing she had become the subject of his teasing again, Haji pursed her lips. She chose to keep quiet rather than speak out.

Her puffed-up, disgruntled cheeks were cute. It was fascinating to see her white cheeks gradually puff up.

“Ahn Haji.”

“Yes?”

“There are a lot of fruits in the fridge.”

“I saw. There seem to be more than the ones you bought last time.”

“I’m not selfish like some people, so I bought them to share.”

Feeling a bit guilty, Haji bit her lower lip slightly and glanced at Seojin.

“Is there anything you want to change?”

“Let’s take it slow.”

Until you get used to it.

Misunderstanding Seojin’s words, Haji nodded.

“Okay. Take your time and let me know if there’s anything to add.”

As their conversation about the contract ended, Haji walked to the kitchen. Standing in front of the fridge, she glanced back.

“Do you want some fruit?”

“Sure.”

Hearing Seojin’s answer, Haji smiled slightly and opened the fridge. It was like her treasure chest.

Watching her cheerful back, Seojin’s lips loosened. He had bought the fruits, which he didn’t even like, just to see that look on her face.

“The scent of Hallabong is so nice.”

(T/N : Hallabong is the Korean name for a specific variety of orange that is grown primarily on Jeju Island.)

Her lively voice filled Seojin’s house, along with the sweet scent of fruit.

***

Early in the morning, Haji seemed busy at the café.

Knock, knock, someone tapped on the pickup counter, and Haji turned her head.

“Isn’t it a bit early to be open?”

“Oh? Hyeseong?”

“I thought I’d come down just in case, but I didn’t expect it to actually be open.”

Since the day Hyeseong had helped her with the trash bags, they had occasionally chatted.

“I’m developing a new menu. The seasonal fruits are so delicious these days, so I’m trying to make fruit juice.”

“That’s why it smells so good here.”

“Would you like to try a cup? You must be on an empty stomach.”

Haji filled a cup with the freshly made fruit juice.

Hyeseong was like a gentleman with manners and consideration ingrained in him. He seemed like someone who could be a good friend.

“Is your finger that was injured last time okay?”

“Thanks to you. The medicine you gave me worked well.”

Haji showed her finger to Hyeseong as she handed him the cup. A small bandage was now on the fingertip that had been wrapped in a bandage.

“That’s a relief. If it hadn’t healed well, I wouldn’t have been able to taste this precious juice.”

“Exactly. I’m so glad the medicine you gave me worked well.”

“Let me know if you need more.”

As they continued their light-hearted conversation, Haji noticed the area around Hyeseong’s eyes and started brewing coffee.

“Looks like you couldn’t go home again yesterday? Your eyes look red.”

“The project I’m preparing these days keeps me busy. Life isn’t easy.”

“Tell me about it.”

After their conversation typical of modern office workers, Hyeseong’s cup was empty.

Haji, who handed him the coffee, added a word of concern.

“Don’t rely too much on coffee.”

“Is it okay for a café owner to say that?”

“Of course. People come first.”

Hyeseong nodded in agreement and smiled. It was the kind smile Sehee had mentioned.

According to Sehee, Hyeseong’s appearance was the epitome of kindness. His smile was especially warm, melting people’s hearts.

“Sehee will be here soon, won’t she?”

“She should be here in about thirty minutes.”

“Thirty minutes.”

Hyeseong muttered softly and checked the time.

“I’ll come back down at lunchtime.”

After promising to meet again, Hyeseong left the café, and Sehee appeared in the distance.

“Boss! Hello!”

Haji laughed at the loud greeting. She was bright as usual today.

“An empty cup?”

“Hyeseong was here.”

“Really? He seems to come by every day lately.”

“Yeah.”

Haji agreed absentmindedly, as if she wasn’t very interested, and started tidying up the leftover fruits.

“Do you think he might be interested in you, Boss?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Why not? It’s natural for a guy to be attracted to a pretty girl.”

Haji laughed and shook her head at Sehee’s words, as if she was certain it wasn’t the case.

“I should watch this with popcorn.”

“Popcorn?”

“Do you prefer cold-hearted guys or warm-hearted guys, Boss?”

“What? Cold? Warm?”

What are you talking about?

Sehee occasionally said things that were hard to understand. She seemed very amused, smiling brightly.

“In simple terms, do you prefer espresso or cappuccino?”

“Well, they have very different charms.”

“Exactly. That’s what makes it interesting.”

Even though Sehee rephrased the question to fit Haji, she couldn’t easily answer.

“I don’t know about interesting, but I…”

Sehee’s eyes widened as she focused on Haji’s hesitation.

“I like all coffee.”

“Ugh, that’s so boring. You have to pick one.”

“Well? I’ll think about it slowly.”

Isn’t it because there’s espresso that other coffees exist?

Swallowing her thoughts, Haji smiled. She felt that saying it out loud would be like discriminating against coffee.

***

The atmosphere in the meeting room was relaxed. Some people were standing, while others were leaning on chairs.

“Please continue to handle the resort and hotel business, Dia.”

Click, as Seojin’s fingers tapped on the laptop, a new business plan appeared.

“The rest of the team should form a group for the housing project.”

“This is…?”

It was a business plan that would surprise even the team members. It was not a building constructed according to a public notice but a high-risk project that required government approval and funding. If it failed, it could all come to nothing.

“Is it feasible?”

A team member asked with concern.

“Aren’t there already youth housing and independent living facilities for teenagers?”

“Can we really say there are?”

No one answered. They had no knowledge about it.

They had neither heard of it nor seen it anywhere, so it was just speculation.

Still, a housing complex for youth and teenagers?

“This is more like a government project. Is it right for a profit-oriented company like us to do it?”

Similar questions were exchanged

Is it beneficial for us?

“Profit is important. We’re people who look at money.”

Seojin nodded in understanding and continued.

“That’s why we’re doing it. It’s a government project. What if we do what the government should do, but we do it in the name of the government?”

“We handle the hassle, but it’s still a government-led project?”

Matthew raised one corner of his mouth. The other team members understood the outcome Seojin was aiming for.

“Are you trying to establish ties with the government?”

“Yes, the recent reports about teenagers losing their residences after leaving facilities were quite significant.”

“And we’re offering a solution for that?”

“We already have enough land. We’re probably the only company that can start immediately.”

Matthew recalled the area he had recently purchased. There were numerous half-built buildings everywhere.

Evicting the few residents for the project wouldn’t be a big deal. There weren’t many people living there in the first place.

They understood that starting immediately was possible.

“Forming ties with the government doesn’t only bring benefits; there could be disadvantages too.”

If the relationship went wrong, it could lead to significant losses.

“That’s possible.”

The team focused on Seojin’s words. This wasn’t a project they could take on lightly; they had to be cautious.

“But the benefits will be greater.”

“Do you have a reason to be confident?”

“Have you ever seen me fail?”

It was an arrogant, almost conceited statement, but no one could refute it. He was the one who had led the business since entering Korea, creating a company and keeping his identity hidden.

The fact that a company he founded only two years ago was generating an annual revenue of over 10 billion won was quite an achievement, and everyone in the room knew Seojin was at the center of it.